From taxation to property values to local control, there is a lot going on at the state level that impacts those at the county level. Updating county officials on these was the purpose of the Kansas Association of Counties conference last week in Overland Park.
Barton County commissioners Wednesday morning took time to review the three-day meeting.
“It was a good conference,” said District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld. Serving as the commission’s voting delegate, she led the discussion.
She was joined by commissioners Shawn Hutchinson and Kirby Krier in attending. Also attending were commissioners-elect Tricia Schlessiger and Duane Reif, along with Treasurer Jim Jordan, Register of Deeds Pam Wornkey and County Engineer Barry McManaman.
Approximately 450 county government attendees, 30 sponsors and 100 exhibitors participated in the 47th-annual event and afternoon exposition that included numerous education sessions, products and services from a diverse group of vendors and networking opportunities with colleagues from across the state. It started Monday and wrapped up Wednesday.
Among the issues were:
• Making sure properties are valued based on fair market value,
This has become an issue because of the so-called “dark store theory,” referring to setting commercial property values based on the building and land as if the buildings were vacant, or “dark.” The building value would be based not only on its current value as an operating business but also factor in other similar buildings that are empty and distressed, thus lowering the structure’s worth.
This would impact the tax revenue generated by counties on property taxes.
While the Supreme Court has ruled against this, the practice remains a problem in more urban areas, Esfeld said. That is why they are pushing for the fair market method.
• Employee retention. “In listening to other counties, I was really proud of us,” Esfeld said. With pay increases and benefits, “we’re doing the right thing.”
• Constituent communication. From utilizing conventional and social media to holding a “coffee with the commissioners” in county communities, the need to be accessible to the residents was important, Esfeld said.
• Kansas House Bill 2380, known as the motor vehicle fee bill. Essentially, this calls for increasing registration and title fees on vehicles for services performed by county treasurers and the division of vehicles, and decreasing administration fees and eliminating the division of vehicles modernization surcharge.
“Currently, the county is subsidizing the treasurer for the state,” Jordan said. “The taxpayers are actually paying more for vehicles now than they should be.”
While popular amongst county officials, the Legislature has refused to pass it. But, support is growing and Barton County commissioners will send letters to lawmakers.
• Senate Bill 13, the Truth in Taxation or revenue neutral bill.
“There are a lot of things we’d like them to do to make it better,” Esfeld said. But, “there are some good things about it,” such as increased transparency.
They’ll just have to watch closely so changes in fact make it better, she said.
• Statutory home rule and constitutional home rule.
Currently, counties fall under statutory home rule which is set by the Legislature while cities fall under constitutional home rule which is codified in the state constitution. KAC favors extending constitutional protection for counties, a change that would expand protections for county leaders.
In short, home rule principle states that government closest to the people will best understand and serve the community’s needs.
• The Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill which authorizes up to $108 billion to support federal public transportation programs and high-speed internet service.
• Funding the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund, which shares state sales tax dollars with local governments to lower property taxes.
• Other topics included medical marijuana, renewable energy and water quality and quantity.
What did the newcomers think?
“I really enjoyed the session on moderate income housing,” said Schlessiger, who is taking over for Jon Prescott in the Fourth District. She noted area projects that are in the works and how funding opportunities like tax credits could help.
She also liked the session of long-term county planning,
“It was very good information,” said Reif, who will take Kirby Krier’s seat for the First District.
When it comes to retention “it seems like you guys are doing what everyone else wanted to do,” he said.
And, he said it was nice to meet other commissioners and county employees from around the state. He learned as much from the informal round-table discussions as he did from the official presentations.
“The county will reap benefits from this,” Prescott said. He didn’t attend, but thought sending a delegation “was a good investment and will pay dividends.”
The Kansas Association of Counties serves Kansas counties by acting as a liaison with other levels of government, presenting the county position on state issues, and advocating legislative policies that advance the interest of Kansas counties. This document represents the values and positions for our member counties.
